Reds, Mariners game a homecoming for many

One of the more intriguing interleague series of the season reunites the Mariners with Ken Griffey Jr., the superstar outfielder who arranged the trade that brought him home two years ago.

That's only one of the many subplots for what will be an open-arms reunion. The Mariners' roster is stocked with some of the Cincinnati Reds' most beloved figures of the 1990s.

The Boone family gets to have another reunion. Lou Piniella gets to manage again in the city where he celebrated a World Series title in 1990. Outfielder Mike Cameron can get reacquainted with a team that still misses him.

''It will be good to see a lot of those guys,'' first baseman Sean Casey said, a smile creasing his face as he thought about the three-game series that starts Tuesday.

The list starts with the man still known around these parts simply as Lou. Piniella flung a base, fought Rob Dibble and restored the Reds to prominence during his stay from 1990-92, pulling the franchise out of the muck from Pete Rose's scandal.

Taking over the season after Rose was banned for gambling, Piniella guided the Reds to their first World Series title since the days of the Big Red Machine. Fans took to yelling ''Lou! Lou! Lou!'' instead of ''Pete! Pete! Pete!''

Rose couldn't get them a championship during his roughly five years as manager. Piniella did it on the first try.

''There's just something special about him,'' said pitcher Jose Rijo, who was MVP of the 1990 World Series sweep of Oakland. ''Lou has been a great motivator in my career, a great example. The way he goes about his business is what I admire most.

''Anybody can be a good manager, but Lou proved to me he's a great motivator. It's the way he approaches everybody.''

Piniella left after the 1992 season, when his contract expired and former owner Marge Schott ignored his requests for an extension. He has settled in with the Mariners, where there's no meddlesome owner calling the shots.

''I think this is the first time he's ever gotten to be a manager,'' said Rijo, who's on the disabled list with a tired shoulder. ''In New York with George Steinbrenner, he couldn't do what he wanted to do. In Cincinnati with Marge, he couldn't do what he wanted to do. He's finally doing what he wants in Seattle, and he's winning.''

Shortstop Barry Larkin, another member of the '90 team, remembers all of the times that Piniella lost his temper on the field when things didn't go his way. Larkin has heard from other players that Piniella is more mellow these days.

He's eager to see firsthand.

''I hear it from guys all the time, so I've got to believe it -- though it's hard to believe,'' Larkin said.

The Reds have been through four managers since Piniella was tossed aside, making it to the playoffs only once. Bret Boone was the second baseman when Cincinnati got swept by Atlanta in the NL championship series in 1995.

He'll be part of a family get-together at Cinergy, where he played from 1994-98. Bob Boone, his father, is in his second season managing the Reds, and brother Aaron plays third base.

Bret and Aaron played alongside each other in Cincinnati for parts of two seasons and went head-to-head after Bret was traded to Atlanta, so they're accustomed to these rivalry/reunions.

No one will get a warmer welcome from the current Reds than Cameron, who started in center field on the 1999 team that won 96 games but lost a wild-card playoff game to the Mets. Cameron was part of the five-player deal that brought Griffey to the Reds in February 2000, and he's been missed.

''He's one of my favorite teammates of all time,'' Casey said. ''You play with a guy for one year and see the impact he can have on a team, as far as the attitude he brought to our team.''

Cameron replaced Griffey in center field in Seattle and became an important part of the team that won 116 games last season. By contrast, Griffey has been hurt for most of his three seasons in Cincinnati.

He tore his left hamstring in 2000 and again in spring training last year. A torn tendon in his right knee sidelined him for six weeks this season, and he was back in the lineup for only two weeks when he pulled his right hamstring.

He's been limited to four pinch-hit appearances the last 10 days. The Reds tentatively plan to start him in center field against his old team, but that could change if the hamstring is still tight.

The Reds are hoping he's more than just a footnote to the series. After leading the NL Central for 51 days while he was sidelined, they've slid into a first-place tie with St. Louis.

They could use the old Junior -- the one that became an All-Century player in Seattle -- right about now.

''If you're not playing as well when you're missing your superstar, then it becomes pretty obvious,'' Larkin said.